Traverse track for clothes closets



Dec. 16, 1958 NovAcK TRAVERSE TRACK FOR CLOTHES cLosETs Filed July 18. 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 16,1958 L. NovAcK 2,864,513

TRAVERSE TRACK FOR CLOTHES CLOSETS Filed July 18. 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 al so ala, a9 30 Dec. 16, 1958 l.. NovAcK 2,864,513

TRAVERSE TRACK FOR CLOTHES CLOSETS Filed July 18. 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet .3

"a E14 aow l Y y 2,864,513 TnAvERsE TRACK FOR CLOTHES cLosETs ik Lawrence N ovack, Newton Center, Mass.

- Application Jury 1s, 195s, serial No. 522,436 2 claims. (cl. 211-162) The subject of this invention is a traverse rod suitable for mounting in clothes closets to act as la support for coat hangers.

Ordinarily a clothes closet Iis provided with a pole on which the coat hangers are hung. The hangers tend to become tangled so that `they are difficult to remove, and garments on the hangers are likely to be unevenly spaced and to hang crooked. Furthermore, as the hangers do not slide easily along the pole it is diicult to move a` group of garments to place or remove hangers in inaccessible parts of the closet. In long closets with narrow doors, a great deal of the space is voften wasted because of the diiculty and inconvenience of reaching parts of the pole which are not immediately in front of the door.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a traverse track, suitable for mounting on a closet pole, or on the bottom of a shelf, which will support a number of coat hangers evenly spaced and in the correct position, and permits the hangers to slide readily to allow convenient access to garments hung in any part of a closet. Another object is to provide a track which can be readily adjusted to t closets of various sizes and easily mounted by an unskilled person.

The track consists in general of two telescoping inverted metal channels, with curved, inturned lips on which run a number of rollers carrying members suitable for supporting coat hangers. Provision is made in the overlappingV region of the channels for moving the rollers easily from one section to another.

In the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of they invention;

Fig. l vis a side elevation, partly in cross-section and partly broken away, of a traverse track constructed according to the invention;

FiglZ is a plan view of the track, partly-broken away;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section, somewhat enlarged, taken along line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse cross-section of the track showing one of the rollers;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section simil-ar to Fig. 4 showing a roller riding on the inside section of the track;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section of an end cap for the, track;

Fig. .7 is an end'view of the cap of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is `an end view of a clip for mounting the track on poles of various sizes, and also shows a modified form of roller;V

Fig. 9 is an end view of another form of mountingthe track on a pole;

Fig. 10 is an end view of another form of end stop;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary cross-section of the track taken along line 11-11 of Fig. 2, showing one of the rollers in transition from one section of the track to the other;

" Fig.l12 is a fragmentary cross-section along line 12-12 Fig. 13 is a fragmentary cross-section of the track in the same region as Fig. 11, showing a modied form of roller in transition from one section of the track to the other;

`Patented Dec. 16, 1958 Fig. y14 is a cross-section taken along line 14-14 of Fig. 13;

Fig.' -15 .is a transverse cross-section of the track showing a modified form of rider; v

Fig.-16 is a cross-section taken along line 16-16 of Fig. 15; Y.

Fig. 17 is a cross-section taken along line 17-17 of Fig.- l5; 4and i Fig". 18 is an end view of another type of clamp for attaching the track lto poles of various sizes.

As seen in-.Figs. 1-5, theY track itself consists of a pair of inverted channel sections 20 and 21 having pairs of inturned arcuate lips 20a and 21a, respectively, which bound alongitudinal slot 22 running the entire length of lthe track. Section 21 is made with a sliding fit with respect to section 20 and telescopes within the latter to permitadjustment of the overall length of the track. Each track sectionZO and `21 is preferably provided with regularly spaced screw holes 23 and 24, respectively, along the top,.for attaching thesections by screws to the bottom of a shelf. The outer section 20 has an elongated slot 25 near its end in the overlapping region of the sections, to permit a centrally placed screw to pass through both sections When the track is adjusted to Various lengths. A number of riders, generally indicated by the numeral 26, carrying hanger supports 27, run in the two track sections. l

As .shownin detail in Figs. 4 and 5, each of the riders consistsof a pair of rollers 28 rotatably mounted on a pin 29, and a hanger block'30, centrally mounted on the pin between the rollers, which carries the hanger supports 27. Thehanger'blockha's a concave rim. The hanger support 27 is ordinarily made of heavy wire formed into a loop at the bottom to receive the hook of a coat hanger,

The upper end of the support is wrapped around the rimof block`30. The hanger block is rather loosely mounted onpin 29. Rollers 28 preferably have extended hubs 28d which tend tolimit the axial movement of the block. Pin 29.is kupset at4 each end tol retain the rollers, or the rollers may be secured in any other convenient manner. The hanger block, which is eccentrically mounted, projects down in to slot 22 `and tends to keep pin 29 perpendicular to the slot.;

Asshown in Fig. 3, thelpszla of the inner tracksec-r tion have lV-shaped notches 31 cut in their left-handjends.

The action of theA rollers as they encounter these slots is' best seen 'iii Figs.l 4,' 5, llfandlZ. In Fig. 4, the rollers 28 are seen resting entirely on the upper sur-faces of lips 20a of thev outer track section. In Fig. 5 the rollers 2S are 'resting entirely on theupper surfaces -of lips 21a which are higher than those of lips 20a. When the roller isA in an intermediate position ina notch, as shown in Figs. 1l

and 12, the upperedges 32 of the' notches bear on the roller at two Ispaced points part way up its sides. Due to the convergence f of theseedge's toward the base of' the notch, .these bearing points' will move gradually toward the center line 33 of the roller 'as the roller moves toward the base 'of the notch. The rim of the roller is transversely curved yon a radius-34 and, due to this curvature, the roller will gradually rise'along the path indicated by the dotted line 33, as the bearing points move closer to its j The roller thus rides gradually up the notchl center. p fromthe level of lip 20a to that of lip 21a., instead of rising'abruptly as it enters track section 21.

restraining `eect ofV theltwonotches also helps toelimif natetwisting of the riders as they pass from one section" The rollers will not stick, in passing from one track section to the other, even ywhencarrying Va heavyload, and the sidewise This stop consists of an oval end plate 35, having an inwardly and` downwardly bent tonguer36 which pro jects into the slot 22, and a pair of depending lugs 37. This plate is secured by means of a bracket 38 which 'tits .under lips`21a and 'betweens lugs 37", and' is.' secured to tongue 36 by a screw 39.

An alternative form oend stop is shown inY Fig; 10, and consists of a channel-shaped' bracket 40'. which is retained onI one of the track sectionshyr means of a screw 41 passing through the screw hole nearest the open end of the section.

In house of new construction, the track isrpreferably screwed to the. bottom of a shelf, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and the conventional poles may'befdispensed with For this purpose, the screw holes are preferably: spaced nine inches apart, and the slot. 254 is made; nine inches long so that` at leastone screw'can always'be passed* through both track sections in their overlapping portion,regardlessl of the length to which the track may be:.adjusted. .For

mounting inclosets which have poles already installed, a

clamp such as that shown in Fig. 9 may conveniently be used. This clamp eonsistsof a strap 42 havingV inturned lower ends 43 which grip the track section 20 or 21., as the case may be. The clamp is preferably made.` of metal and is sufficiently tlexible so that it can beV snapped over the pole44. The clamp-is then tightened on to the pole and the track by means of a screw 45 and nut 46. A number of such clamps may bel placed at intervals along the pole, and the straps near each end of the track may carry extensions 47 which project across slot 22 and serve as stops for the riders.

Another form of clamp for attaching the: track to a pole is shown in Fig. `8. This clamp consists of a pair of straps 49 having curved upper ends which embrace the pole and curved lower ends which embrace the track. The straps are connected together by a carriage bolt 50 and wing nut 51. This screw may be tightened to any desired degree to draw the upper ends of straps 49 in, to fit a smaller pole, as indicated by the dotted lines 52.

Another form of clamp is shown in Fig. 18. This clamp consists of a pair of channel-shaped brackets 53 having overlapping legs` 53a at the top, and inturnedllegs 53b at the bottom. The leg 53a of one strap carries an attached nut 54 which passes through a hole 55 in legs 53a of the other strap. A thumb screw 56 pases through this nut and engages a curved plate 57. This plate may be adjusted up and down by means of the screw to tit poles of various sizes. As in the clamp shown inFig. 9,

the legs 53b of the straps` of the end clamps may have.

extensions 58 which serve as` stops for ,the riders.

In the modified form of rider shownin Fig. 8, the rollers 60 have flat central rims 60a andconical rims 60h at either side. The action of these rollers in passing from one track section to the other is illustrated in Figs. 13` and 14. When the roller enters notch 31 the riders 60b are engaged by the upper edges 32 of the. notch. As the roller moves toward the base` ofthe notch the con verging bear on points closer to rim 60a, and the slope of rims 60b causes the center of the roller to rise gradually along the path indicated by line 61, until the rim 60a is at the level of the upper surface of lip 21a,

In the form of rider illustrated in Figs. `15, 16, and 17 a hanger supporting member 62,V which may be a metal stamping, depends from pin 29. The upper part of this member has two bent lugs 63 which ride in slot 22` and hold the member straight in the track. The member has an opening 64 into which the hook of a hanger may be inserted. This type of rider may be used with either` the bevelled or the rounded type of roller.

The track sections are preferably made of fairly heavy gauge metal so as to remain straight under a heavy load of clothing. When the track is clamped to a pole at Cil intervals along its length, the track and pole become, in effect, a beam or truss of substantial stiffness, thusA eliminating troublesome sagging in the center of the pole. The clamp type of attachment' is especially convenient for persons living in rented property who do not want to make rpermanent installations- It is understood that any number of riders may be placed on the track, and: the number may be changed by removing one ofthe end stops and sliding riders on or oli. The riders keep the hangers properly spaced and straight so that they do not become tangled. The number of riders may be chosen so that enough space is left on the track to permit riders in inaccessible parts of the closet to be slid out. The V-shaped notches on the inner track provide a double bearing on the rollers, so' that side thrust, and resulting excessive friction are eliminated in passing the rollers from one track section to the other. The rollers also ride smoothly from one section to another, especially the bevelled type which have a uniform rise. The whole closet space may be thus utilized, to advantage, and clothing hung in inaccessible portions brought into reach with very little effort.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination of a traverse track for clothes closets with, a plurality of riders mounted to move along the track: the track comprising an outer channel-shaped track section and an inner channel-shaped track section slidably'received in the outer section with portions of the track sections overlapping, and means for supporting said sections in aligned, xed relationship, both sections having inturned:lips and` a longitudinal slot between the lips, the lips of the inner section being at a higher level than those of theouter section; and each `rider comprising a pair of rollers disposed to bear on said lips, anda clothes hanger supporting member supported on said rollers and depending through said slot, the lips of said inner section having notches with converging upper edges engageable with said rollers, and said rollers having curved rims adapted to bear on said edges.

2. The combination of a traverse track for clothes closets with a plurality of rid/ers'imounted to move` along the track: the track comprisingjan outer channelshaped track section and an innerlc/hannel-shaped track section slidably received in the outer section with portions of the track sections overlapping, and means for supporting said sections in aligned, fixed relationship, both sections having inturned lips and a longitudinal slot between the lips, the lips of the inner section being at a higher level than those of the outer section; and each rider comprising a pair of rollers disposed to bear on said lips, and a clothes hanger supporting member supported on said rollers and depending through said slot, the lips. of said inner section having notches with converging upper edges engageable with said rollers, and said rollersA having bevelled rims adapted to bear on said edges.

References Cited in the le. of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 625,944 White et al. May 30, 1899 650,211 Wirth May 22, 1900 1,258,707 Rice Mar. 12, 1918 1,545,850 Reubel July 14, 1925 1,613,447 Ellberg Jan. 4, 1927 1,661,137 Furlong Feb. 28, 1928 '1,663,122 Edsall Mar. 20, 1928 1,921,828 Knape Aug. 8, 1933 2,409,867 I ones Oct. 22, 1946 2,597,224 Charron et al May 20, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 173,341 Switzerland Mar. 16, 1935 489,851 Great Britain July 28, 1938 

